The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22
MEMPHIS APPEAL
RRPoRT OF THE PENITENrIARY
CHAPLAIN.


ial upon a community. The object
Of the penitent ary system is 70 re-
ducs the amount Of crime, 80 that the
citizens can dwell in security, aud the
peace Of the community be undis-
tuibed. To reprsss crime the crimi-
mails must, in some way, be induced to
live honestly and in obedience 10 the
laws. As far as the penitsntisry eys-
teen tends TO this result II is a success
as far as IT is inc ompetent to do this 1t
Is q failure. Every convict that is in
duoed by tina sytt ,mt o lead an upright
life after leaving his cell, ceases TO be
an expense 10 the State or tiouOler
Of public order. Where the dis
charged convic. continues 10 he CHM
inal society remains unidentified by
the penitentiary system. The man
again breaks the law, has TO be ar
rested, tried ard imprisoned again.
All this is costly, and the cost
brings with it NO advantage, except
m srely keeping the man from law.
btaN,n, while he can be kept pris'
oner. To amend a convic the man
must oe made to understand that 1t is
20 his interl 81 - be- honest and law
abiding, that fuch conduct pays and
contrary conduct is loss. II governed
BIZ such motives only, amend
ment cannot be relied upon, for cir
cumstauces or calculation will some
times make 1t appear that to break
the law will BIO more profitable or
more gratifying to some pas
sion, than to keep 1t. There
fore the moral sentiment mus. be
aroused, the feeling Of right, duty and
responsibility, and the once lawltsJ
man be governed by principle. To
produce and sustain moral conduct,
religion is necessary, for the sense OF
responsibility to God Is the true i'm
cenlive TO the discharge Of duty to-
ward man. This is why the
shaplain is indispensable in the
peuitentlary, and little does the world
know how much good those self deny
ing men have done amid the gloom
and sadness Of the prison cell. Look
ing at our penitentiary system in this
light, She report Of the chaplain there
to which Gov. Bate he's called the at
tention Of the Legislature in his mes
sage, is OF great interest. That report
informs us that hitherto the prisoners
were compelled to attend the religious
services he d by the chaplain, but now
that attend ,nce Is entirely voluntary
The results to the prisoners has proved
sufficiently satisfactory to induce 9
continuation Of the voluntary system
Under that system the kindly In
Ausuee OF religious teaching mue'
be increased. Chaplain Elliot
calls the tention Of the Legislature
10 the following facts: Nearly 400 c
the peniteutiary prisoners are at o
under fifteen years Of age. When tn
new penitentiary, that must short
be built, is erected, a distinct porto
OF 1t should be set apart for thes
young of n lers, and be adapted t
keep them clear Of hardened GRIM
mails, and 10 provide means for thei
reformation. The experience OF othe
States shows that seventy-6ve out c
100 young criminals can be returne
10 society at the end OF their terms, |
q reformed condition, and with the d.
sire and Intention OF becoming goo
citizens. 1t 10 to the young that specii
efforts 10 reform must be made. Nil
glel with other criminals, tney go OF
of the penitentiary much worse NE
than they came in. They then pre-
like foul birds upon society, they a.
again and ag,in arrested aad impri
oned, snd az long as they live socie'
has either to maintain them
prison, or suffer from them whe
out of II. The reformed YOU
criminal gives no farther expense al
causes no further loss or injury.
the new psnitentiary the chapla
should be member Of the pris,
family, with his own room, AS ca
new prisoner ia indicted into 4
prison Qarb aud is under the shock t
deg a1a'ion brings with II the chs
lain's ministTations should beg
and a link Of sympathy be ests
lished. The chaplain should keeI
rec3rd Of the past life aud surroun
iDgs Of each prisoner, and Of the
ieots OF the prison conditions up
him as disp1sing him to amendme
of life, or the contrary. These recoi
would rot only bs guide in his o
ministrAtions, but in a generate
form would be invaluable aids in i
proving prison discipline. The st
OF Tennessee has hitherto tab
no step toward resluing ir,
future crime the boys and g
in its penitentiary. True,
employs chaplain-yes, aud @
fsrs upon him tle maguitic
sum of tlpenty fire dollars month.
not this fact a sufficient proof OF
necessity Tor prison reform in I
nes'esH Ea h year the State ia
SOL 600 for allowing its Cenvict la
to injurs the interests Of honest lat
aud out of it all gives SIS mo
toward the restoration of It's cri
nslsl Is there not reason here
the Christian aud the philsnthro
to use their influence upon oar lie
iItuTe1